Perth/Dili –The Government of Timor-Leste and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) have reached agreement on terms for the sale of ConocoPhillips’ 30 percent interest in the Greater Sunrise Fields.
The Prime Minister of Timor-Leste congratulated the Parties on successfully reaching an agreement, which benefits both Parties and is expected to allow Timor-Leste to proceed with discussions with the other Greater Sunrise Joint Venture members on future development of the Greater Sunrise resources.
Timor-Leste’s Special Representative, Xanana Gusmao, stated that “ConocoPhillips and the other Joint Venture partners have always known Timor-Leste’s preference for the development of Greater Sunrise to be through a pipeline to Beaco on the South Coast of Timor-Leste. TimorLeste looks forward to working with the other Joint Venture members to successfully develop the project.”
The Government’s purchase of ConocoPhillips’ interest is conditional on receiving funding approval from the Timor-Leste Council of Ministers and National Parliament, as well as regulatory approvals and partner pre-emption rights.
ConocoPhillips’ Australia-West President, Chris Wilson, said the decision to sell the interest followed an approach from the Timor-Leste Government.
“We respect the Timor-Leste Government’s preference to develop the Sunrise fields through a new greenfield, Timor-Leste based LNG facility. While we differ on the proposed economic development option, we recognise the importance of Sunrise to the Nation of Timor-Leste and hope the sale of our interest to the Government allows them to progress their vision for the development of Sunrise,” Mr. Wilson said.
“We are proud of our important contribution to Timor-Leste’s development and our relationship with the Government, which will continue through our interest in, and operatorship of, the BayuUndan Field.”
The negotiated sale price of approximately $US350 million essentially recovers the costs incurred by ConocoPhillips in connection with the Greater Sunrise Fields.
The sale transaction covers ConocoPhillips’ interest in Production Sharing Contracts 03-19 and 03-20 and Retention Leases NT/RL2 and NT/RL4. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019. The Government of Timor-Leste was advised by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Miranda & Associados and ConocoPhillips was advised by Herbert Smith Freehills.
The Sunrise and Troubadour gas and condensate fields, collectively known as the Greater Sunrise fields, are located approximately 150 kilometres southeast of Timor-Leste and 450 kilometres northwest of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory.
The current Sunrise joint venture partners are Woodside (operator) with a 33.4% interest, ConocoPhillips (30%), Shell (26.6%) and Osaka Gas (10%).
Media Contacts
Michael Marren
+61 8 636 32644 (office)
+61 477 739 478 (mobile/cell)
Michael.A.Marren@conocophillips.com
Jose Lobato (for Tetum or Portuguese speaking media)
+61 8 6363 4001 (office)
+61 670 723 085 (mobile/cell)
jose.lobato@conocophillips.com
Timor-Leste Government
govtlmedia@gmail.com
www.timor-leste.gov.tl
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